Plural voltage motor



Filed Feb. 1, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 7 1952 R. OBER 2,613,343

PLURAL VOLTAGE MOTOR gjnov P INVEN TOR. for 085 ATTORN EYS.

Oct. 7, 1952 R. OBER 2,613,343

PLURAL VOLTAGE MOTOR Filed Feb. 1, 1949 4 Shegts-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. for 055 BY I ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 7, 1952 R. OBER PLURAL VOLTAGE MOTOR Filed Feb. 1, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z }z2ov IN V EN TOR.

I Q o i 744 for 0557,

1 52 BY I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 7, 1952 PLURAL VOLTAGE MOTOR Roy Ober, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to Robbins & Myers, Inc., of Ohio Springfield, Ohio, a corporation Application February 1, 1949, Serial No. 75,987

This invention relates to a plural voltage motor, by which is meant an electric motor capable of running on two different voltages. This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 5,945 filed February 3, 194:8.

Electric motors have long been available in which by means of jumpers the connections inside the motor could be changed so that the motor would run on different voltages. However, in each instance of which I am aware a physical act on the part'of an operator was necessary in order to change the motor overso that it would run on a .difierent voltage. 1 There are many applications in which it isimpractical or undesirable to require an act on the part of the operator to change the motor overfrom onevoltage to another. As a specific example of such a situation I might cite the situation in connection with the delivery of groceries to chain grocery stores, where the delivery trucks have electrically operated hoisting mechanism for the tailboard. The motors for running such hoists are not operated by the electrical system of the truck, but are supplied with current from an outside source; that is, by an outlet in the store front. In any given chain of stores it-will be found that some are wired for 220 volts, and some are wired for 110 volts. Since deliveries are usually made at night it is impractical for the driver of the truck in each case to ascertain what voltage is provided at the particular stores where the delivery is to be made. It is desirablethat he be able to plug his power line into a receptacle at the store and to have the motor function regardless of whether the voltage happens to be 220 volts or 110 volts. 1 7

With the foregoing considerations in mind it is an object of my invention to provide an electric motor and a wiring arrangement therefor whereby the motor will run'on either of two difierent voltages without the necessary intervention of an operator.

It is another object of my invention to provide automatic means for converting the motor from 220 volt operation to 110 volt operation, and vice versa.

It is another object of my invention to provide a motor having a polarized plug adapted to en'- gage in a polarized receptacle- The polarized plug will have a number of leads necessary for running that motor on both said voltages, while any given receptacle will have only certain of its contacts wired up. Those receptacles provided with 220 volts will have certain terminals wired, and those wired for 110 volts will have other 3 Claims. (Cl.318 225) terminals wired, so that when the polarized plug is inserted into the polarized receptacle the proper connections to the motor are automatically made.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a coil forconvertlng the motor from operation atone voltage to operation at a different voltage. I

Still other objects include the provision of arrangements as outlined above for a single'phase current, 2-phase current and 3-phase current, and in connection with Z-phase current to provide such arrangements suitable for 3-wire systems, and for 4-wire systems. V

Theseand other objects of my invention which will be-pointed out in more detail hereinafter, or which will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe certain exemplary embodiments.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a wiring diagram according to one embodiment showing single phase operation.

Figure 2 is a diagram similar to Figure 1 show ing 3-phase operation.

Figure 3 is a diagram similar to the others showing 2-phase 3-wire operation.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing Z-phase 4- wire operation.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an accessory which may be used.

Figure 6 is a view of another embodiment of the invention showing single phase operation.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing 3-phase operation.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '1 showing 2phase, 3-wire operation.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing 2-phase i-wire operation.

Figure 10 is a view of a third embodiment o the invention showing single phase operation.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing 3-phase operation.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing. Z-phase, 3-wire operation.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 showing Z-phase, ll-wire operation.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention I provide an electric motor so arranged that by the operation of a number of contacts it may be changed over from one voltage to another, e. g; from 220 volt operation to volt operation. The motor circuit has a number of terminals, certain of which are arranged to be connected to a source of 220 volts, and certain which are arranged to be connected to a source of 110 volts. In the 110 volt circuit I provide a coil for actuating the contacts above mentioned. Certain of these contacts are normally open, and others are normally closed. When the motor is connected to a source of 220 volts, the motor connections are such that it will run on 220 volts; when the motor is connected to a source of 110 volts the above mentioned coil is energized and changes the motor connections so that it will run on 110 volts.

It will be clear that while I shall describe my invention in connection with a motor designed to run on 220 volts or 110 volts, it is applicable'to a motor designed to run on any two different voltages and I do not intend to limit myself specifically to the voltages herein described. I

have shown herein basically three different ways in which my invention may be carried out and I shall show it as to each of the three basic ways for four different wiring systems, i. e. single phase, 3-phase, 2-phase 3-wire, and Z-phase 4,-wire.

Referring first to Figures 1 to4 inclusive, I have illustrated a motor having two running windings l and II. Starting switches are indicated at l2 and [3. The winding circuits are provided with the contacts I6, I! and I8 as shown. As will be clear from Figures 1 and 2, when the contacts l8 are closed and the contacts I8 and l1 are open, the windings IO' and H are in series.

When the contacts is and i1 areclosed and the contacts 18 are open, the windings are connected in parallel. In Figure 1 the various contacts are shown in their high voltage position.

Th i c i fpro de h a s ng Winding at IS and a centrifugal switch is diagrammatically indicated at 20. The usual condenser is prov d o at 2 Swi hes 2 an 23 a e Pr id for the starting winding l9 so that on 220 volts, as seen in Figure 1, the contact 22 is open and 23 is closed, whereby the starting current passes through the starting winding lB-and also through one of the running windings at l I. On 11 0 volts, when th running windings are parallel the contact 23 is open and 22 is closed, so that the starting current does not pass through either of the running windings.

A pair of contacts 24 and 25 are provided to complete the motor circuit either through the 110 volt terminals or the 220 volt terminals. The 220 volt terminals are indicated at A- and C,- and the 110 volt terminals are indicated at A and B.

Also, across the 110 volt stator circuit I provide a coil 26 which will be energized when the terminals A and B are energized. This coil is arranged to actuate the switchesorcontacts l6, l1 and I8, 22, 23, 24 and 25, to close the. normally open ones and to open the normally closed ones. Thus, the contacts [8, 23 and which are normally closed are open, and the contacts 16,11, 22 and 25 which are normally open are closed when the coil 26 is energized.

The starting switches 12 and I3 are energized by a coil 21 which is provided with two windings 28 and 29. The coil 21 is energized'by the push button 30. The normally open switches ii and 32, and a normally closed switch33, are provided to place the windings 28 and 29' either in series or in parallel. Normally with220 volts thel'windings 28 and 29 are in series, but when the 110 volts are applied across the terminals A B, the coil 26 also actuates th normally open switches 31 and 32 to close them, andthe normally'closed switch 33 is opened up, whereby the windings 28 and 29 are thrown into parallel.

According to the arrangement described above, the coil 26 in the volt circuit throws the series motor coils into parallel and the series starting switch coils into parallel.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be seen thatthe system (in two of the modifications) is designed for an electric motor with a stator winding divided into two equal sections. A set of electrically operated switches, a polarized plug and receptacle and a manually operative switch for controlling the current through the operating coils of the switches are provided. The basic principle involved is that with a double winding stator in the motor the two sections of the winding can be connected in parallel for low voltage operation or in series for high voltage operation. The change from series to parallel connections requires a regrouping of the motor leads. With the control system described herein the regrouping is accomplished by the electrically operative switches entirelyiautomatically without any adjustment being required of the operator and without the operator even having to know what the voltage'situation is.

Thus the stator winding is divided into the two sections In and I I, an electrically operative switch havingcontact l2 and I3, an'operating coil 21 divided into two-sections 28 and 29 and a switch with the contacts [6, l'l,"l8, 22, 23,24, 25, 3t, 32 and'33 andan operating coil 26. A manual switch 30 is provided for energizing the coil 21. It may be pointed outfth-at the starting winding l9, the capacitorjiliandthe contact 20 are only incidental to the particular type of motor being illustrated and'have nothing to do with the invention in question. I

The polarized receptacle is'wircd differently for 110 volts and for 229 volts so that while three poles are available, onlytwo of the poles are connected. When the plug i pushed into the recepmole. um ng bez s p e le to e e 110 volt t m nal ener izes- .1.9 vol cu flows through the operatingc'oilfi from A to B. This nt hrough. the 25 caus s the c s '5 3 3. 3. .5.- L 2 ands: to operate to n he norma y c os w tc es and close h or l o en .Q as. will be clear from a. c n i era i nof F gural. The change in po i- Qn, o e el ctri contact causes the motor to sections 19am... and the .cpera e e t ons 8 and 'Zli'toiheconnected in parallel for. operation on llQ voltsq These contacts remainv in this position as'lon asthe plugremains in the receptacle.

If the plug is pushed into a receptacle wired for 220,volts therewill be no current flow in the coil 26 because thereis no connection in this receptacle for the leadrB. All the contacts operated by the'coil 26. will. therefore remain in the position shown in Figure 1. With the contacts so arranged the motor stator sections I 0 and I I and the operating coil sections 28 and 29 remain in series ready for operation on 220 volts. When the plug has been inserted inthe receptacle all that is necessary in order to start the motor is to operate the manual switch 3.0 to energize the coil 21 which closes the contacts 12 and i3- supplying current to the motor- The above described arrangement is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, adapted to various wiring systems. Thus, in Figure 2 it is adapted to a 3phase system. In Figure 2 1 have shown the motor as having a pair or runnin winding a and m each pair of'wi'iicnmay replaced in series or parallel'by means of the-contacts Ilia and l8a, and, again, I have provided a starting switch'coil 21a having the windings ma and 29a, which may be placed in series, or parallel by means of the contacts tic, 32aand 33a. In other respects the reference numerals in Figure 2 correspond'to those usedin Figure l, butwith the suinx"a.-

In Figure 3 I have shown an arrangement of w Figures 1" andi'2' adapted to a 2-phase'3-wire system, and in this figure the corresponding elements b earcorresponding numerals, but with the m a I In Figure l I have shown the arrangement of l Figures 11 and'2 adapted. to a 2-phase4-wire syste'mwhereinthe reference numerals are the sameas in the previous figures, except with the suffix .c.

In Figure 6 I have shown a second embodimentof the invention adaptedto single phase operation. Generally speaking, according to this embodiment there is again provided a motor having two running windings which may be placed wheiiiconnected to the 11'0volt leads operates on llil' 'voltsfrom the line, and when connected to the'220'volt leads operates on 110 .volts from the transformer secondary. m

- Thus,=in Figure 101 have shown a single phase arrangement arranged for operation respectively 011220 volts andllO volts. I 1

The starting switches are shown at 14' and are actuated bythe starting-switch coil 15 when the 10- blcsedput the motor across the 110 volt terminals push-button 1B isdepressed; Contacts II when A BE Across the22o volt tern'iinals A C there is w the 001118 which corresponds .to the coil 25 of the first'e'mbodiment' and the coil 54 of the second embodiment. This coil-when energized throws the various contacts to ready the motor for the 220 v'olt'operation. On 220 volts current also flows through the primary ofthe transformer 19, setting up a current in the secondary thereof so that when the'contacts 80 are closed and the contacts I! are open, the motor runs on'the 110 volts delivered by the secondary of the transformer 19.

Againfinl igures 11, 12 and 13 I have shown the embodiment of Figure was applied: to 3- numerals as in Figure 10, but

is energized on 220v Volts through the secondary of a step-down transformergand on 110 volts the coil is thrown across the 110 volt line. Thus, in Figure 6 the motor has the running windings ii and 32 which may be placed in series when the contacts d3 are closed, or in parallel when the contacts 43 are open and the contacts 44 and G5 are closed. The starting switches are shown at 46. The motor may have the usual condenser 41, centrifugal switch 48 and starting winding 49, the starting winding being cut in and out of the circuit by means of the contacts 50 and 5| as described above in connection with Figure 1. The contacts 52 and 53 perform the same functions as the contacts 24 and 25 in Figure l.

The coil 54 corresponds to the coil 26, and the coil 55 corresponds to the coil 21. The coil 55 actuates the contacts or starting switches 36 when the push button 55 is depressed. It will be observed that, as shown in Figure 6, when 220 volts are applied to the terminals A C, the primary of the transformer 51 is energized, setting up a current in the secondary thereof, which flows in a circuit through the contact 58 which is closed, the coil 55 and across the push button 56 when the latter is depressed. The contacts 59 and 65 are open. When 110 volts are applied across the terminals A B current flows through the coil 54, which throws the various contacts to close the normally open ones, and open the normally closed ones, so that the coil 55 is in effect across the 110 volt line with the contacts 59 and 651 closed, and the contact 58 open. On 110 volts, therefore, the transformer 5'! does not function.

Figures '7, 8 and 9 show the embodiment of Figure 6 as applied to respectively 3-phase current, Z-phase 3-wire, and Z-phase l-wire circuits. In this group of figures again the various parts corresponding to those in Figure 6 will have the same reference numerals, but with the suffixes a, b and 0, respectively. The operation of these circuits will be understood from what has been said in connection with the operation of the circuit in Figure 6.

In Figures 10 to 13 I have shown the third embodiment of the invention, in which the motor embodies a transformer, and in which the motor e, b'and c respectively. rv A 'The operation of the circuits phase operation, 2-phase 3-wire operation, and

" Z-ph'a'sed-wire operation respectively, and again corresponding elements bear) the same reference with the .sufiixes of Figures 11, 12 and l3will-;be understood from what has been saidi'n connection'with Figure 10..

My invention contemplates that the motor will have a polarized plug and that the places where the motor is to be used will be provided with polarized receptacles. For example, in single phase operation the polarized plug and receptacle will have three terminals'corresponding to the terminals A, B and C in predetermined positions. In locations having 220 volts only the terminals A and C will be connected, while in locations having volts only the terminals A and B will be connected. Since the polarized plug can only be inserted in the polarized receptacle in one orientation, the mere act of inserting th polarized plug in the polarized receptacle will cause the motor to run on whatever voltage is provided, either through the terminals A B, or the terminals A C, as described above. It will be understood that in the case of 3-phase operation and with 2-phase 3-Wire operation both the plug and receptacle will have 6 terminals, 3 certain ones of which will be connected in locations having 220 volts and the other 3 of which will be connected in locations having 440 volts. In the case of Z-phase 4-wire circuits the plug and receptacle will have 8 terminals, 4 certain ones of which will be connected for one voltage and the other 4 of which will be connected for the other voltage.

In cases where it is impractical to re-wire the receptacles of the S-Wire, G-Wire or 8-wire polarized receptacles, as outlined above, it may be desirable to provide an accessory as diagrammatically indicated in Figure 5. This accessory can take any desired form, but for single phase operation it would include a 3-Way polarized receptacle into which the operator could plug the 3-way polarized plug of the motor and the other end would be provided with a conventional 2- element plug. A switch will be provided whereby one of the two male elements can be connected either to the female elements B or C while the other male element will always be connected to the female element A. Thus, if no 3-way polarized plug is brovided where the motor is tobe used, the operatoncanplug. into the terminals AYJB and C'rand set his-switch-Sfl-to-the appropriate 'voltageandthen plug the male element 9| into any available outlet. It will be clear to those. skilled in the art how. with multiple switches, 'the:device. of :Figure 6 may be adapted to 3-phase operation VandtosB-phase 3- wire or 4-wire operation;

'While I have shown :three, specific arrange- .ments for accomplishing the i desired result, -together with fourdifferent wiring arrangements showing each :or ;the; three embodiments, it 115 .tovbeunderstoodithatldo not intend-to limit :myself itO :thejzprecise 'fcrms, illustrated, since :numerous modifications will suggest themselves to thoseskilledin the art. I

What I claim. as-newand desire -.,tosecure by LettersPatent is -set'forth in the ,claimswhich follow:

1. a. A control; system iior an ;:A. C. motor operable on either-Jot two-voltages.comprising-a polarized 1 plug having;a.,plurality: cf prongs adapted to beinsertedin aipolarized receptacle having'aplurality of sockets, saidipolarizedreceptacle, when connected toxone of jsaidoperating voltages having certainoi; said sockets connected to asourceoi saidzvoltage:anditheremainder of its sockets blankyand whenriconnectedzitotthe other of said voltages havingrsccketanther:than the sockets connected-tcsaid firstivoltagesource, connected to 'a' source :of saidzsecond voltage and the remainder of its :sockets vhlank a plurality of leads connected between said prongs and said motor for ener gizing saidmotcrirom either oi said voltages, irelay'imeans having a coil con- ;nected between certain of. .said. leads so that said eoilis energized when .said motor .is connected to one oft-said voltages and non-energized when connected to the other of said voltages, and

v-switch'means operated bysaid coil fior changing theQoircuit connections of said motor .to adapt .it-zto operate on either or said voltages.

'. -2. -A system as definedinclaimll, wherein the motor has a plurality .ot .win'ding section s,;and

,means'being. also adaptedto. change the connections of the winding sections.of..said'last.named coil from series Ito parallel.

ROY'OBER.

REFERENCES 3 CITED Thefollowing :referencesare of recordin the file -.cf :this ,patent:

STATES PATENTS Name "Date 'Hornbarger "July; 20, 1948 

